Jonathan Kalmus

Activists want police to have more power to stop boycotts of Jewish and Israeli businesses, claiming that existing legislation is "deficient".

North-West Friends of Israel, which led a campaign to end the picket by pro-Palestinians of the Kedem Israeli cosmetics store in Manchester, has written to a group of MPs urging them to strengthen the Public Order Act.

Packages for homeless people, Christmas presents and even reindeer food were among products of Mitzvah Day volunteers across the north.

Government offices for the Department for Communities and Local Government in Liverpool and Newcastle gave away lunches to help people in homeless shelters, along with Manchester law firm Kuit Steinart Levy.

Magen David Adom UK Manchester's annual dinner celebrated raising £250,000, more than doubling income from last year's dinner.

Jonathan Mosery, adviser at the Israeli Ministry of Defence, led the evening's theme focusing on events during the summer's Gaza conflict and MDA's medical role. Mr Mosery also spent the week speaking across the north for the charity.

When Ulrich Weigert turned 100, there were five birthday parties and cards from the Queen and a government minister.

But on the downside, he managed only a 1.6 kilometre country walk, rather than the two kilometres he normally covers. At least he did not miss his regular art class on his birthday morning, or his yoga group later in the week.

Manchester University Union has been accused of running an unfair vote over a motion to twin with a Palestinian university union allegedly linked to Hamas.

Jewish and non-Jewish students running a campaign against the motion said the university had unfairly cancelled the week-long student ballot over a complaint that their campaign had received external funding.

In a message to participants at Sunday's Say No to Antisemitism rally, Mr Osborne said: “Whatever one's views about the politics of Israel and Gaza there is absolutely no place in our country for antisemitic attacks.”

A fashion designer threatened with prosecution for taking her children out of school to visit Israel has hit back - with a range of T-shirts calling on the government to change its policy on banning term-time family holidays.

Police have increased patrols in a Jewish area of Salford amid fears that local businesses could be targeted by pro-Palestinian boycotters.

Greater Manchester Police said it had assigned more officers to Leicester Road, a main shopping street lined with stores selling kosher goods. The move came after a man was witnessed taking photos of shops in the area.